function validateForm()
{
// defaults for the script
   var errors = '';
   var dateerror = '';
   var oMyForm = document.contactform;
// regular expression patterns
   var validemail     = /^([a-zA-Z0-9_\.\-])+\@(([a-zA-Z0-9\-])+\.)+([a-zA-Z0-9]{2,4})+$/;
   var validname      = /^([a-zA-Z\-'])+ *([a-zA-Z\- '])*$/;
   var valid4digit    = /^[0-9]{4}$/;
   var valid2digit    = /^[0-9]{1,2}$/;
   var validphone     = /^[0-9]{1,}$/;

// DATE OF COVER CHECK
 
      var dateError = 0;
      var vMyDate = new Date();
      var vMyDay = parseInt(vMyDate.getDate());
      var vMyMonth = parseInt(vMyDate.getMonth())+1;
      var vMyYear = parseInt(vMyDate.getFullYear());
      var myDay = parseInt(oMyForm.ap_day.value);
      var myMonth = parseInt(oMyForm.ap_month.value);
      var myYear = parseInt(oMyForm.ap_year.value);
									
      if(myYear < vMyYear)                                                       { dateError++; }  
      else if((myYear == vMyYear) && (myMonth < vMyMonth))                       { dateError++; }
      else if((myYear == vMyYear) && (myMonth == vMyMonth) && (myDay < vMyDay))  { dateError++; }
      if(isNaN(myYear) || myMonth<1 || myDay <1){ dateError++; }
	  if(dateError>0) 
      { 
      errors+='Please choose a valid arrival date.\n';
      }
// END OF DATE OF COVER CHECK

   if(oMyForm.ap_nights.value == "")
   { errors+='Please provide the number of nights required.\n'; }

   if(!valid2digit.test(oMyForm.ap_adults.value))
   { errors+='Please provide the number of Adults.\n'; }
   
   if(!valid2digit.test(oMyForm.ap_children.value))
   { errors+='Please provide the number of children. If none select 0.\n'; }

   if(!valid2digit.test(oMyForm.ap_dogs.value))
   { errors+='Please provide the number of dogs. If none select 0.\n'; }

   if(!validname.test(oMyForm.ap_name.value))
   { errors+='Please provide your name.\n'; }

   if(!validemail.test(oMyForm.ap_email.value))
   { errors+='Please provide a valid email address.\n'; }
   
   if(!validphone.test(oMyForm.ap_number.value))
   { errors+='Please provide a valid telephone number.\n'; }

   

// show errors or submit form
   if (errors){alert('We cannot accept your enquiry until the following fields are completed\n-----------------------------------------------------------------------------\n'+errors);}
   else{oMyForm.submit();}
}